Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Jul;65(1):37-40. 10.4046/trd.2008.65.1.37.

A Case of the Minimal Change Nephropathy Associated with Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Ko KI
• Song MK
• Shin DY
• Kim DH
• Kim CH
• Han CH
• Lee SM
• Choi YJ
• Kim CJ

• KMID: 1478215
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.65.1.37

Abstract

Nephrotic syndrome is a relatively rare complication of malignancy. A few cases of nephrotic syndrome accompanying Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and other malignancies have been reported since the first case of the nephrotic syndrome associated with extrarenal malignancy was reported in 1922. Hodgkin's disease and solid tumors are known to be the most common malignancies accompanying nephrotic syndrome. The pathologic findings of kidney in patients with Hodgkin's disease commonly show minimal change nephropathy. Membranous glomerulonephropathy is the most common pathologic feature in patients with solid tumors. Although membranous glomerulonephropathy related to small cell lung cancer has rarely been reported in Korea, minimal change nephropathy accompanying small cell lung cancer has never been reported. We present here a case of a 70 year-old male with minimal change nephropathy that was related to small cell lung cancer. We detected small cell lung cancer during the diagnosis work-up of nephrotic syndrome. We suggest that nephrotic syndrome can be a manifestation of underlying malignancy.

Keyword

Small cell lung cancer; Minimal change nephropathy; Nephrotic syndrome

MeSH Terms

Glomerulonephritis, Membranous
Hodgkin Disease
Humans
Kidney
Korea
Leukemia
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Male
Nephrosis, Lipoid
Nephrotic Syndrome
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Figure

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  Figure 1 Bronchoscopy shows a small mass obstructing LLL superior segmental bronchus.

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  Figure 2 (A) Kidney: LM: The glomeruli appear normal. The interstitium shows focal mononuclear cell infiltration and edema (H&E stain, ×200). (B) Kidney: EM: The glomerular architecture is intact but the foot processes are diffusely effaced.

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